‘Spider-Man’ Spin-Offs: ‘Venom,’ ‘Sinister Six’ Announced

In a move taken straight out of Marvel Studios’ “Avengers” playbook, Sony Pictures has decided to take the “Spider-Man” franchise
and stretch it far beyond its Peter Parker limits.

In an official statement released late Thursday (December 12), Sony announced the development of two new movies that exist within the “Spider-Man” universe: “Venom” and “Sinister Six,” both based on some of the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler’s deadliest enemies.

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Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, writers of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” will co-write “Venom,” with Kurtzman tapped to direct. “Cabin in the Woods” mastermind Drew Goddard will write “Sinister Six,” with an eye to possibly direct. (Goddard is currently working with Marvel Studios to bring the Netflix series “Daredevil”
to life as writer/director and showrunner.) “Fringe” veteran Jeff Pinkner and “Now You See Me” writer Ed Solomon round out the five-person brain-trust tasked with helping producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach and director Marc Webb to expand Sony’s “Spider-Man” film universe.

“This collaboration was born out the great experience we and Marc had working with Alex, Bob and Jeff on ’The Amazing Spider-Man 2,'” said Arad and Tolmach in a statement. “With more than fifty years’ wealth of stories in the comic books to draw upon for inspiration, the Spider-Man universe is truly boundless; in addition, the Spider-Man comics have the greatest rogues gallery of any series, and to have the chance to explore that on film is truly thrilling. That is what Alex, Bob, Jeff, Ed and Drew will do in this unprecedented collaboration, and we’re excited about the directions they are taking the character and the world.”

Both “Venom” and “Sinister Six” are expected to arrive after “The Amazing Spider-Man 3,” currently set for release on June 10, 2016. In their press release, Sony expressed its hopes for Marc Webb to return as director for “Amazing 3,” but stopped short of confirming any deals.

Stay tuned to MTV News for more on the announcement of an expanded “Spider-Man” movie universe.

Are you excited for the “Spider-Man” films to expand à la the “Avengers” series? Let us know in the comments below!